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A History and Insights Into The Immortals:
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Ancient beings, pure energy but sentient, the Fae discovered long ago how to take physical form, opening a new world to them—our world. The early Fae adopted areas of the physical world and formed clans to protect their territories. The oldest clan, the Ohanzee (Shadows), chose North America. The next clan, the Sidhe, occupied Ireland and parts of the British Isles, preventing other Fae from molesting their corner of the physical world. By the time humans began spreading across the globe, nearly every corner had Fae protectors—the Jinn in the Middle East, the Ancient ones in the Far East, the Olympians in the Mediterranean, and scores of others.
The emergence of humankind was a powerful force in the physical world. Humans constructed cities and cultivated the lands, drawing the ire of many Fae who loathed human meddling. Other Fae were intrigued, not by the cities humans built, but by the culture and art they developed and brought with them. As humans spread and built, a rift formed within the clans over the best solution to the growing number of people in the physical world. |
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Ozara, originally an Ohanzee, sought to protect humans from those of her kind who were bent on the destruction of humankind altogether. She was the first to discover the power of the fifth element, Aether. Recruiting like-minded Fae from the original clans, Ozara, the first Aetherfae, created the Seelie clan.
Six thousand years ago, her powers unchallenged and her clan enormous, Ozara forced the original clans to abide by her decision to protect humankind. No Fae would be allowed to cause harm to any human. Those Fae who disobeyed, and there were several, were systematically hunted down and destroyed. Enraged by the rise of the Egyptian civilization, a powerful splinter group emerged to challenge Ozara’s stranglehold on power. The Unseelie grew in numbers that dwarfed the original clans in both size and power. Their singular goal: to eliminate humankind. They viewed humans as a destructive force in the physical world that threatened everything the Fae held dear. |
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One of them, Ra, a former Jinn Fae, learned the power of Aether. Soon afterward, the clans collided in a destructive war that cost the existence of many Fae on both sides of the conflict. The battles vicious, the outcome of the war uncertain, the Fae who remained in the independent clans rode out the conflict fearing retaliation from whichever clan prevailed.
Unable to defeat her Aetherfae rival, Ozara sought help from an unexpected source: a Maebown—a human with the ability to control the four cardinal elements. Ozara taught Surero, an Egyptian man, how to create Aether. With his help, Ozara destroyed Ra and restored order for three thousand years. |
The Unseelie clan, weakened by the conflict and fearing annihilation, abided by Ozara’s edicts. To diffuse future uprisings, the Seelie permitted interactions between Fae and people for the purpose of shaping human civilization in the hope people could learn to live harmoniously with the physical world.
When Rome began to exert dominance, a second Aetherfae named Dagda emerged from the Sidhe clan. Dagda honed his ability with Aether and grew even more powerful than Ozara. The Unseelie, steeled by their newest weapon, once again rose to challenge the Seelie. For two centuries the Seelie and Unseelie fought for supremacy.
Weakened by the powerful foe, the Seelie struggled to find an answer for Dagda. Just as all hope seemed to fade, and the Seelie teetered on the brink of destruction, Ozara discovered Áedán. A human in Iyeman (present day Ireland), Áedán possessed Surero’s abilities with the Cardinal elements. Ozara then taught him the secret to Aether. As before, the human Maebown destroyed Dagda, quelling the Unseelie uprising.
Ozara’s newest edicts were much broader. No longer would the Fae reveal themselves in any way—the physical world would be left to physical beings. The Fae who took physical form did so surreptitiously. With interactions between Fae and Humans forbidden, except in rare circumstances, the Fae were slowly relegated to myth. Humans continued to spread unchecked, and their powerful impact on the physical world was left unmitigated. Over the last two hundred years, the destruction of natural areas around the globe has led to many defections from the Seelie clan.
When Rome began to exert dominance, a second Aetherfae named Dagda emerged from the Sidhe clan. Dagda honed his ability with Aether and grew even more powerful than Ozara. The Unseelie, steeled by their newest weapon, once again rose to challenge the Seelie. For two centuries the Seelie and Unseelie fought for supremacy.
Weakened by the powerful foe, the Seelie struggled to find an answer for Dagda. Just as all hope seemed to fade, and the Seelie teetered on the brink of destruction, Ozara discovered Áedán. A human in Iyeman (present day Ireland), Áedán possessed Surero’s abilities with the Cardinal elements. Ozara then taught him the secret to Aether. As before, the human Maebown destroyed Dagda, quelling the Unseelie uprising.
Ozara’s newest edicts were much broader. No longer would the Fae reveal themselves in any way—the physical world would be left to physical beings. The Fae who took physical form did so surreptitiously. With interactions between Fae and Humans forbidden, except in rare circumstances, the Fae were slowly relegated to myth. Humans continued to spread unchecked, and their powerful impact on the physical world was left unmitigated. Over the last two hundred years, the destruction of natural areas around the globe has led to many defections from the Seelie clan.
Coming 2015: Age, Alignment, and Clan Affiliation for every Fae Character in the WFJ series.
Copyright © 2014 Christopher Shields.
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2014 Christopher Shields.
All Rights Reserved
